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All about Toronto, Canada's largest city

THEATRE PASSE MURAILLE, ONE OF TORONTO’S RED BRICK THEATRES, IS NOW 50 YEARS OLD

Founded in 1968 and housed in a designated historical building at 16 Ryerson Avenue, Theatre Passe Muraille has long been an incubator for Canadian playwrights and actors. The premises was originally the home of Nasmith Bakery and Stables.

In 2007 the building was purchased by the City of TORONTO in a partnership deal with Artscape, a not-for-profit arts group that builds and develops different kinds of creative spaces. Theatres are among them.

Passe Muraille’s founding principles included the idea that theatre shouldn’t be about real estate. Plays can be made and staged anywhere – in barns, churches, bars, lofts, even in former bakeries. As well – theatre should endeavour to mirror social change, and that’s been a guiding principle of the company ever since. <PHOTO ABOVE – Kristintbooth>

In 1984 KEANU REEVES appeared in Brad Fraser’s play “Wolfboy” at the Passe Muraille. The story, about a teenager with wolfish tendencies, became a cult hit – and was later made into a musical.

At about the same time, Keanu was a correspondent for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s youth magazine “Going Great”. He now has a star on Hollywood Boulevard and the rest is history.